Who is joining forces?

Proposal

Idea pitch

The migrant crisis facing Europe is larger than anything seen since WW2. Rising tensions point to the need for a realistic and comprehensive set of policies. Debating Europe will run a series of 10 online + 3 real-life debates with citizens and stakeholders across the EU to help “humanise” the crisis by putting names and faces to phenomena that otherwise seem too large and abstract to relate to. Each debate will focus on a specific European city, focusing on experiences and proposed solutions.

Where will your idea take place?

Valletta, Malta; Budapest, Hungary; Berlin, Germany

Why does Europe need your idea?

Europeans have begun to grasp the scale of the migrant crisis, but EU institutions and governments have yet to forge proper responses. Rising tensions across Europe point to the need for a realistic and comprehensive policy on migration that addresses both the challenges as well as the opportunities. Decisions mustn’t be forced upon an unwilling European public, but rather be part of a comprehensive, open and honest debate.

What is your impact?

The migration and refugee crisis are a challenge that must be tackled head on.The project will aim to promote intercultural dialogue between refugees, migrants and EU citizens, as well as drawing attention to the practical challenges facing local communities. The migration discussion must be better informed, and via our debates we aim to show the crisis can be turned into a strength instead of an excuse for hatred.

How do you get there?

From July 2016 – Mar 2017 we will publish 10 online debates on the migration and refugee crisis, each using a different European city as a case study. The debates will be citizen-led from the very beginning, during which they will have the opportunity to question and debate with policymakers, NGOs, civil society groups, locals, and refugees and migrants themselves.Each debate will be promoted amongst Debating Europe’s 1.6 million strong community, including 240k followers on Facebook and Twitter. Some of the best ideas and policy recommendations coming out of our online debates will form the basis of 3 “real world” physical debates with key partners in countries directly affected by the refugee and migration crisis; Migrant Report, Malta; Prospect Foundation, Hungary; Kiron, Germany.

What is your story?

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Who are you doing it for?

By way of being predominantly online, the project is geared towards engaging and encouraging citizens from all across Europe to democratically participate in debates on the refugee and migrant crisis. We especially strive to make the policy issues surrounding the refugee and migration crisis accessible to Europe’s youth, many of whom are underrepresented in politics, giving them a platform to interact with policymakers, stakeholders, migrants and fellow citizens.

What makes your idea stand apart?

Debating Europe will provide citizens from across Europe with a unique platform to voice their concerns and fears about the refugee and migration crisis, and debate them with policymakers and stakeholders directly involved with the crisis on the ground. Our debates are entirely shaped by our 1.6 million strong community. Once they submit their questions and policy suggestions - either in writing, video or via social media - we seek policymakers and stakeholders to directly respond to them.